Neil Hammett died at his Fore Street flat on Valentine’s Day after suffering three seizures while asleep on his partner Paul Sutton’s shoulder.

The 28-year-old was diagnosed with a form of epilepsy around a year ago – an illness his family believe he developed after breaking his leg and suffering a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) which they think caused blood clots that eventually reached his brain.

Mr Sutton, 45, the man Neil was planning to marry, told The Star his family has been overwhelmed with the support received from his friends. He said Neil’s funeral, for clsoe friends and family, is going to be held on March 8 at Ipswich Crematorium at 10.45am, with donations to The Stroke Association.

Meanwhile tributes to the former Suffolk New College student have flooded into The Star.

Suzanne and Jeremy Frost, who had known Neil and his partner Paul for around five years, said they were distraught to learn of his death.

Describing the 28-year-old as a “lovely guy”, the couple, who live at Blackfriars Court in Foundation Street, said he will be “terribly missed by everyone who knew him”.

Mrs Frost, 38, told The Star: “Neil was such a lovely guy. He will be missed by everyone who knew him, we are just devastated.

“We have known him and Paul for about five years, they were lovely.”

And Abby Hardman, who went to college with Neil, added: “Neil meant a great deal to me. There aren’t many people who cared for their family and friends as Neil did.

“If you were chosen to be in his life you were very lucky. His passing is going to leave a hole in many lives.”